Theoretical Work in Magnetocaloric Effect of LaFe13-xSi x Compounds

In this paper, the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of LaFe13-xSi (x) compounds with 1.2 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 2.2 has been investigated. For this purpose, the magnetization dependence on the temperature and magnetic field were measured. Magnetic entropy change (-Delta S-M) allowing estimation of the MCE was determined based on thermodynamic Maxwell's relation. The experimental results show that T-C increases with the Si content, whereas the magnetic entropy variation decreases. A large magnetic entropy change has been observed. The maximum of LaFe10.8Si2.2 occurring close to T-C = 240 K is about 2.3 Jkg(-1) K-1 for an applied field change of 0-2 T. In addition, a magnetocaloric effect of LaFe13-xSi (x) compounds (x = 1.2 and 1.6) has been also carried out using phenomenological model. Dependence of the magnetization on temperature variation for LaFe13-xSi (x) compounds (x = 1.2 and 1.6) in different applied magnetic fields was simulated. The values of maximum entropy change, full width at half maximum, and relative cooling power (RCP) for the LaFe11.8Si1.2 and LaFe11.4Si1.6 compounds in different applied magnetic fields were calculated.